The 2011 Bass Anglers Association Rule Book

Licensing / Insurance / Maritime Rules

1. All anglers must have a current Ontario Sports Fishing license or be age-exempted.

2. Members’ boats must be insured and have liability coverage, a copy of which must be provided on or before the day of the first tournament.

3. Each angler and boat owner must sign a waiver of liability for the club and its members.

4. Life jackets must be worn while under sustained (more than idling short distances) power of the main motor.

5. No wake zones and other maritime rules must be obeyed.

6. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on boats.

Fees

1. Fees are $400 for the season, which includes the Classic.

2. A $50 deposit is required for each team wishing to have its spot held. The balance must be paid on or before the day of the first tournament event.

3. Failing to pay the full fees before launching at the first event will result in disqualification and your team may be replaced by a team on the waiting list, if applicable.

Payouts

1. Prize money for each event will be based on 95-97% of total fee revenue divided by 7 days, recognizing that the Classic is a two-day event. A 3-5% holdback for Club operational expenses is applied at the discretion of the Treasurer to keep the budget in check.

2. In case of a tie, the prize money will be divided equally between the teams tied.

3. Payouts for regular season events will be 40% for first place, 30% for second, 20% for third and 10% for fourth place based on 1/7^th of the total fee revenue after Club holdback.

4. Payouts for the Classic will be 50% for first place, 30% for second, 20% for third, based on 2/7ths of the total fee revenue after Club holdback. The Classic is a single two-day event paying to 3 places.

Big Fish Pool

1. A $10 per team per tournament voluntary contribution for those teams wishing to participate in the big fish pool for regular season events and each day of the Classic.

2. Big Fish for the day is based upon official Weightmaster weights, and is only applicable to those teams who have entered the Big Fish pool on that day.

Pre-Fishing

1. Pre-fishing the tournament lake is prohibited twelve hours prior to the day of the tournament. (i.e.: After 12:00 noon of the day prior)

Inspections and Equipment, General Rules

1. There will be a boat/live well inspection at the beginning of each event, between the hours of 6:00am and 6:45am.

2. Functioning live wells (or equivalent) are mandatory.

3. No live bait is allowed. Only artificial baits or pork rinds are permitted.

4. Landing nets are permitted.

5. Boats must be in the water no later than 6:45am. Any later, and you forfeit your blastoff to the last position for that event.

6. All boats must check-in with the Blastoff boat before 6:45am to have lifejackets, livewells, and kill-switch inspections done. Look for the boat with the flag – the black and gold “Tiger” Nitro. Have your life jacket on and your partners on his seat, have your live wells open and running, and please show your kill switch cord. Once the inspection is done, your partner should have parked the tow vehicle. Meet your partner at the dock AFTER the inspection is done.

7. Teams that launch after 7am will be required to find the Blastoff boat, or an Executive boat to do their live-well, equipment, and kill-switch check prior to fishing.

8. Teams may only have four (4) fish on board while under sustained power of the main motor during regular events and five (5) during the Classic tournament.

9. Tournament officials are allowed on your boat at any time during the tournament for the purpose of ensuring compliance with these rules.

10. Competitors may not transfer fish or tackle between boats.

11. A boat may not come to shore during the tournament except for thunderstorms or washroom duties. (Private property rights must be respected.)

12. Boats must maintain a respectful distance from other teams. Do not cut in front of another teams’ path.

Tournament Hours

1. Tournament hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on regular events and the first day of the Classic, and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the second day of the Classic.

2. Anglers must calibrate their watches with that of the Blast-off Captain/Tournament Director.

3. In the event of heavy fog, the tournament will be delayed until visibility returns to a safe level. The event end time will not be extended.

Blast-off

1. Morning blast-off at regular events will be by individual teams starting with Team 1 in the first event, Team 6 in the 2nd event, Team 11 in the 3rd event, and so on.  Boats will leave single-file, staggered approximately 5 seconds apart as advised by the Blast-Off Captain.

2. Blast-off for the Classic will be in order of ‘Team of the Year’ standings with the Team of the Year taking off first, second place taking off second, etc. This may be done in groups at the discretion of the Executive.

3. Weigh Master may blast off in regular and Classic events any time after 6:45 recognizing he will return 15 minutes early to set up weigh-in. Weighmaster must check-in with Blastoff boat at 3:45.

Weigh-In and Penalties

1. All teams must be checked-in with the Blastoff boat, at the docks, by the end of each tournament. Each team will be assigned a weigh-in number upon their arrival and must remain AWAY from the dock(s) until your number is called.

2. One pound per minute will be deducted for each minute that a team is late.

3. A 12-inch minimum length is required (from tip to tip).

4. Up to four (4) fish (largemouth or smallmouth bass only) can be weighed in for regular events and five (5) fish for the Classic.

5. There will be a ½ pound penalty for each dead fish. A fish must be alive (able to swim away at release) to qualify for the Big Fish Prize or avoid the penalty. You will have five minutes to revive a failing fish. A member of another team must observe. Please notify the Blastoff Coordinators upon check-in if you have a failing fish. You may be given weigh-in priority and assistance in reviving the fish.

6. Only one big fish per team may be weighed in for each event.

7. The Weigh Master has total and final authority over the entire weigh-in procedure.

8. Teams must release fish at least 100 yards away from the weigh-in site and must drop off their partner with weigh bag, when called, and then move away from the dock to allow access to other teams before picking up the partner when he/she returns to the dock.

9. Dead fish are to remain in the possession of the team. MNR rules are to be followed.

Teams and Substitutions

1. Teams competing in the previous year will be provided first right to join upon deposit.

2. A maximum of 25 teams will be eligible.

3. At least one of the regular team members will be required to fish any of the regular season events.

4. Substitutions: Unlimited for Regular Season Events. No substitutions for the Classic.

Team of the Year and Big Fish Recognition

1. Title of “Team of the Year” will be based on the best four of five weights in regular season events.

2. “Big Fish” recognition will be based on the biggest single-fish weight for the regular season.

Tournament Waters

1. The Club Executive will determine regular season and Classic waters for the following year, taking into account Club Member preferences, the potential for overfishing of particular waters and rotation away from at least one or two waters fished the previous year. In addition, every effort will be made to avoid conflict with waters to be fished by other clubs and series.

2. The Club Executive may hold a vote for any or all of the waters in a given year.

3. Any navigable water accessible from the boat launch is fair water. Teams wishing to lock must advise a member of the Executive 30 minutes in advance of launch and show a copy of the lock pass to a member of the Executive.

Code of Conduct

1. Club members will obey all rules of the BAA and other maritime rules.

2. Club Members will at all times conduct themselves civilly, with common courtesy and respect.

3. Club members are encouraged to take up any issues they may have with other members privately before filing formal complaints with an Executive.

4. Intimidating, threatening or slanderous/libelous behavior or comments will be grounds for immediate disqualification from a particular event or from BAA, at the majority decision of the Executive. There will only be a partial refund of fees (pro-rated to the nearest event, less club holdback).

5. Infractions of these rules will be subject to review by the BAA Executive. If a member of the Executive is a subject of complaints then that member will be excluded from the complaint process. Decisions of the Executive with respect to disciplinary action will be final, and are not subject to appeal.

6. The Executive reserves the right to approve or deny applications for any reason by 2/3 majority vote.

Club Executive

1. There will be three Co-Executives.

2. All key decisions will be made by the full Executive and communicated through the website and/or emails.

3. A year-end financial report will be provided at the annual general meeting.

4. Co-Executive will coordinate Club activities collaboratively, in particular with respect to the dates and waters for regular season and Classic events, club rules, and any issues that may arise.

Co-Executive will oversee, at minimum, the following:

1. Oversee administration of live well and boat checks, blast-offs and docking, website.
2. Collect annual and special fees (excluding Big Fish pool), calculate prizes, and keep records. Report to members by way of an annual statement.
3. Manage the weigh-in process at each event and arbitrate any disputes in this regard.

Volunteer Positions

Live-well & Boat Checkers: Check live-wells and boats to ensure compliance with rules. At least two volunteers will be required to share these responsibilities. For 2011, this will be Scott Acheson and Cory Banford.

Blast-Off Coordinators: Coordinate blast-offs under supervision of the Co-Executive. For 2011, this will be Scott Acheson and Cory Banford.

Big Fish Pool Collector: Solicit Big Fish prize pool contributions from teams at the beginning of each event. Note which teams have or have-not paid into the pot, and advise the Co-Executive accordingly before the prizes are awarded for that day.